THE FRENCH COACH 



77 



Second, approved or subsidized stallions, such as are owned by 

 private parties. Upon inspection by government experts, those 

 of the second class that are found of sufficient merit are given 

 government approval. The owners of such horses are allowed 

 from 300 to 5000 francs bonus ($60 to $1000) from the Minister 

 of Agriculture for the year for which this approval stands, during 

 which time the horses are to be used on the mares of the com- 

 munity in which they are located. Third, authorized stallions. 

 These by official inspection are pronounced of good quality and 

 worthy of public patronage. Since 1885 the French law has 

 prohibited from public 

 service stallions not com- 

 ing up to this standard. 



According to official 

 statement in I9O3, 1 there 

 were owned in France by 

 private proprietors, 1476 

 approved and 265 author- 

 ized stallions. Of the 

 approved, 522 proprietors 

 owned one stallion each ; 

 167, two; 74, three; and 

 29, four ; while 208 owned 

 one authorized stallion each. 



Characteristics of the French Coach. This breed really pre- 

 sents some variation in type. The larger, smoother sort brought 

 to America is what we know as the coacher. These generally 

 average about 16 hands high, and American trade prefers this 

 height for stallions and geldings of maturity. Mares will stand 

 from 15 to 16 hands. In a list of 22 stallions before the writer 

 the average weight in sale flesh is 1396 pounds, the lightest 

 weight being 1300 and the heaviest 1475. For stallions in fair 

 condition 1350 may be regarded as an acceptable weight, with 

 mares at 1 200 pounds. There is also a smaller, more cobby type 

 of coacher, or French trotter, that is not so commonly brought to 

 America, yet is highly valued by the French for its speed quality. 



1 Rapport de 1'inspecteur general directeur des haras a M. le ministre de 

 Pagriculture sur la gestion de 1'administration des haras en 1903. 



FIG. 29. A view of the stable at the Equine 

 School, Le Pin, France. Photograph by 

 James B. McLaughlin, Columbus, Ohio 



